Delta Plans Big Foray Into Latin America

Nevertheless, Delta has a "fair number" of international aircraft it can still tap, according to Whitehurst. It recently has made changes domestically, including dropping a significant number of routes where it can use the large aircraft from those routes to fly internationally, he said.

The fact that it reached a new deal for more cuts from its pilots several weeks ago also works in Delta's favor, said Anthony Sabino, an airline industry expert and professor at the Peter J. Tobin School of Business in New York.

"The market for pilots and other airline professionals is soft, and that's an understatement," Sabino said. "They played it down to the wire, but there is still hope for Delta, and we will see what happens next few months."

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